In this guide
Walk into any firewood supplier and you will hear three terms: green, seasoned and kiln-dried. They describe how much water the wood still holds. This guide explains each, so you know what you are paying for.
Green wood
Green wood is freshly cut. It is full of sap and moisture, often around half its weight in water. It is heavy, hard to light, hisses and spits on the fire, and gives off a lot of smoke. It is not suitable for burning in a stove or open fire until it has dried.
Seasoned wood
Seasoned wood has been left to dry in the air, usually split, stacked and kept off the ground and covered so wind can move through it while rain stays off. How long it takes depends on the species, the size of the logs, the weather and how it is stacked. For dense hardwoods such as oak it can be a year or considerably more; softer woods dry faster.
Seasoning works, but it is slow and weather-dependent, and "seasoned" is not a measurement. One supplier's seasoned logs can be properly dry and another's can still be damp. The only way to know is to measure moisture; see how to check your logs.
Kiln-dried wood
Kiln-dried logs are dried in a kiln, a heated chamber with controlled airflow, until they reach a target moisture content. This takes days rather than months and gives a consistent result, because the drying is controlled rather than left to the weather.
Typical benefits:
- Ready straight away. No further seasoning needed.
- Consistent. Every log has been through the same process.
- Easy to light. Dry wood catches quickly and burns cleanly.
Kiln-dried wood is usually a little more expensive per load than seasoned wood because of the energy the kiln uses. Many people find the saving in time, and the cleaner burn, worth it.
Which should you choose?
| Green | Seasoned | Kiln-dried | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying | None | Air-dried over months or longer | Dried in a kiln over days |
| Ready to burn? | No | Only if it has dried properly | Yes, if stored dry |
| Consistency | n/a | Varies with weather and supplier | Consistent |
| Best for | Drying at home for next year | Those happy to check moisture themselves | Convenience and reliable results |
One thing all three need: dry storage
Even kiln-dried logs soak moisture back up if left in the rain or on damp ground. Keep them off the ground and covered, with the sides open to the air, and bring a few days' worth indoors to warm up before burning. Our guide to storing firewood covers this in detail.
If you are buying green wood to season at home
You can save money by buying green logs and drying them yourself, but you need the space and the patience. Split them, stack them off the ground in a sunny, breezy spot, cover the top only, and measure before you burn. Expect to buy a year or more ahead.
